AC-AC Voltage Regulation by Switch Mode PWM Voltage Controller with Improved Performance

DOI : 10.17577/IJERTV2IS90568

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AC-AC Voltage Regulation by Switch Mode PWM Voltage Controller with Improved Performance

AC-AC Voltage Regulation By Switch Mode PWM Voltage Controller With

Improved Performance

P. K. Banerjee1 and Kaamran Raahemifar2

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Voltage sag is an important power quality problem. It may affect domestic, industrial and commercial customers. Voltage sags may either be decreasing or increasing due to faults or change in loads. In this paper a switch mode AC to AC regulator is investigated to maintain constant voltage across the domestic appliance during the voltage deviation from the rated value. Such deviation may occur due to change in load or change in input voltage due to voltage sag of the system itself. The proposed system incorporates insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with high frequency switching technology. The Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controls the ON/OFF time (Duty cycle) of switching devices (IGBTs) of this regulator. By regulating duty cycle of the control signal, output voltage can be maintained almost constant for wide range of input voltage variation. Simulation results show constant voltage can be achieved in either cases of increasing or decreasing input voltage as long as it is within specified limit. The Total harmonic distortion (THD) analysis for different waveforms, THD calculation and comparison for input currents have been presented in this paper.

  1. Power lines experience voltage sags due to switching lines/loads and faults somewhere in the system. Short time voltage sags may also occur because of nearby momentary periodic loads like welding and operation of building construction equipment. Voltage sags are much more common since they can be associated with faults remote from the customer. Power quality describes the quality of voltage and current [1] and is one of the important considerations in domestic, industrial and commercial applications. Power quality faced by industrial operations includes transients, sags, surges, outages, harmonics and impulses. Equipment used in modern industrial plants is becoming more sensitive to voltage sags. Both momentary and continuous voltage sags are undesirable in complex process controls and household appliances as they use precision electronic and computerized control. Major problems associated with the unregulated long- term voltage sags include equipment failure, overheating and

    complete shutdown. Tap changing transformers with Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) switching are usually used as a solution to continuous voltage sags [2]. They require a transformer with many SCRs to control the voltage at the load which lacks the facility of adjusting to momentary changes. Some solutions have been suggested in the past to encounter voltage sag [3-4]. AC to AC voltage regulation system based on the Cuk converter have been developed by different topologies and methods [5-6].

    Figure 1: AC to AC Buck converter schematic

    In an AC Buck converter as reported in [1], normally, a reduction of input voltage causes a decrease in output voltage. Output voltage is increased to desired value by adding a suitable voltage, which is induced in the transformer secondary as shown in Fig.1. If the input voltage is increased then output is increased. But it is necessary to decrease the output voltage to the desired value by subtracting the secondary induced voltage from input voltage. It is not possible to achieve this by buck arrangement. This limitation can be overcome by using reported AC Buck-Boost configuration [7], where output voltage is remained constant for either case of increasing or decreasing input voltage. The AC Buck-Boost configuration by using IGBT switches with manual control circuit is shown in Fig. 2.

    The input-output simulation results of uncontrolled AC Buck- Boost voltage regulator for input voltage 250V, 300V and 400V (all are peak values) are shown in Fig. 3(a), (b) and (c)

    V+ 8

    V+ 8

    V3 0

    U3A

    R2 U1

    A4N47A

    50

    R6

    V6

    15Vdc

    R2

    U1 V6

    A 4N47A

    V1 = 15V V2

    3 + 15Vdc 10

    0 R5

    R17

    15V dc

    V2 = 0 TD = 0

    TR = .249999ms TF = .000001ms PW = 0

    OUT 1

    2 0

    – 4

    AVD- 648A

    100k 1k

    P WM D9

    R19

    1k

    0 R5

    100k 1k

    PER = .25ms

    15Vdc

    V4 V5

    R1 U2 R4

    0 R1 U2 R4

    13Vdc

    A4N47A

    A 4N47A

    V7

    0 50

    0

    0 R3

    V7

    500

    15Vdc

    50 500

    15V dc

    R3

    0

    100k

    0

    TX1

    100k

    V out

    D1 D7

    Z1

    D2 D5

    Z3 2 1

    L1

    L1

    D8 D3

    10mH

    D6 D4

    C1 Ro

    VOFF = 0

    D1 D7

    Z1

    L1 10mH

    D2 D5

    Z3

    V1

    V1

    C1

    2mH

    V4 300uf

    C1

    R18

    .01

    2

    50

    50uf

    D8 D3 D6 D4

    VAMPL = 400V FREQ = 50Hz

    R9

    .01

    200uf

    R12 C9

    V- 11

    V- 11

    v cc-

    10k R7

    Vout

    0

    LM324 2 –

    3

    R6

    V+

    V+

    OUT 1 10k

    LM324 2 –

    V- 11

    V- 11

    v cc-

    R9

    V- 11

    V- 11

    1

    1

    LM324

    v cc-

    60u

    Figure 2: AC Buck-Boost converter configuration by using IGBT

    + R16

    OUT 2 –

    switches with manual control circuit

    C8

    .1u D11

    U3A

    4

    4

    v cc+

    v ref

    10k

    3 +

    4

    4

    V+

    V+

    U4A

    v cc+

    10k

    3 +

    4

    4

    U5A

    OUT 1

    R11

    10k

    run

    respectively. The output voltage can be remained constant UT268

    V+ 4

    V+ 4

    R15

    2

    1k

    LM3

    R15

    2

    1k

    LM3

    v cc+ U10A

    R8

    V+

    V+

    10k

    v cc+ 1

    when the input voltage level changes from a lower than actual

    C3 R10

    2u 2meg

    1

    C5

    .1u

    3 +

    OUT 1

    1

    PWM

    v cc+ V1

    v cc-

    v ref

    input voltage level to higher than the actual input voltage

    11

    11

    V-

    V-

    24

    R14v cc-

    15Vdc

    V2

    V3

    8Vdc

    level by using PWM technique.

    V1 = 10v V5 V2 = -10v

    TD = 0

    TR = 490us TF = 490us

    PW = 10us 1

    PER = 1ms

    50k

    1

    R20

    10k

    15Vdc

    1 1

    These feature have been also established by an automatic feedback control circuit for AC buck-boost voltage regulator

    [7] as shown in Fig. 4. It has been observed that although output always maintains constant voltage in spite of change

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    Figure 4: AC Buck-Boost converter with automatic feedback control circuit

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    Figure 5: Input- Output waveforms (Buck-Boost feedback controlled) when input Voltage: (a) 250V (b) 300V (c) 400V and output

    always maintain =300V

    in input voltage, the output voltage contains significant ripple when automatic feedback control circuit is used. The simulation results for controlled AC to AC Buck-Boost regulator for input voltage 250V, 300V and 400V (all are peak values) are shown in Fig. 5(a), (b) and (c) respectively. Furthermore, it have been seen that input current is very high with more harmonics and the output current waveform which contain significant ripple also. So, it is important to further investigate removing the ripple from output voltage, output current and reduce input current and its associated harmonics. This present work is a continuation of previous research to develop a switch mode AC to AC voltage regulator to overcome above drawbacks with improved performance by using Cûk converter topology.

  2. Cûk converter is similar to the Buck-Boost converter with some rearrangement. Cûk converter provides an output voltage which is less than or greater than the input voltage, but the output voltage polarity is opposite to that of the input voltage [8]. In Cûk converter, the capacitor C1 is the medium for transferring energy from the source to the load. The implementation of AC Cûk converter by two switches is shown in Fig. 6 where output capacitor (C2) acts as a filter. The circuit operation has been explained in positive and negative cycle as follows.

    During positive half cycle of input voltage when IGBT- 1(Z1) is ON and IGBT-2 (Z2) is OFF, the current through inductor L1 rises and at the same time capacitor C1 discharges its energy to the circuit formed by C1 IGBT- 1(Z1), C2, the load, L2 . When IGBT-1(Z1) is OFF and IGBT-2(Z2) is ON, the capacitor C1 is charged from the input supply and the energy stored in the inductor L2 is transferred to the load.

    The operation of negative half cycle for AC input voltage

    (a)

    (b)

    (c)

    8

    8

    V3 0

    V+

    V+

    U3A

    R2 U1 A4N47A

    50

    R6

    V6

    15Vdc

    Figure 7: Input- Output waveforms (AC Cûk manual controlled) when input Voltage: (a) 250V (b) 300V (c) 400V and output always maintain =300V

    V1 = 15V V2 V2 = 0

    TD = 0

    3 + 15Vdc 10

    OUT 1

    0 R5

    100k 1k

    TR = .249999ms TF = .000001ms PW = 0

    2 0

    – 4

    AVD- 648A

    is the same like positive half cycle but direction is opposite.

    PER = .25ms

    V4 V5 15Vdc

    4.5V

    R1 U2 R4

    A4N47A

    V7

    So in both cycles we get the output voltage across the load.

    0 50

    0

    0 R3

    0

    500

    15Vdc

    It is assumed that the relation between input and output

    voltage is the same as the DC to DC Cûk converter in ideal case. So, the voltage gain of Cûk converter [9] is given by,

    L1

    1mH

    D1 D7

    100k

    C1

    D2

    L2

    D5

    50mH

    APT3 APT3

    VOFF = 0

    Z1 250uf

    Z3

    C2

    R

    200uf

    and current gain is given by,

    V1 D8 D3

    D6 D4

    VAMPL = 250V

    FREQ = 50Hz

    150

    0

    Figure 6: AC Cûk converter configuration by using IGBT switches with manual control circuit

    A Cûk converter can be obtained by the cascade connection of the two basic converters: the step down (Buck) converter and the step up (Boost) converter. In steady state,

    the output to input voltage conversion ratio is the product of the conversion ratios of the two converters in cascade. To calculate the value of filter capacitor (C2), the following formula [10] is given by:

    width of switching pulses (PWM) are changed manually to maintain the constant output voltage when the input voltage level changes from a lower than actual input voltage level to higher than the actual input voltage level.

    In Fig.8 shows the controlled AC Cûk converter. It is the combination of AC Cûk arrangement with automatic feedback control circuit to make proper PWM signal as per

    The input-output simulation results of above uncontrolled AC Cûk converter for input voltage 250V, 300V and 400V (all are peak values) are shown in Fig. 7(a), (b) and (c) respectively. In uncontrolled AC Cûk converter, the pulse

    requirement. In controlled AC Cûk converter arrangement, the same feedback control circuit used as of AC Buck-Boost converter [7]. Let consider the switching frequency is 1Khz.

    R12 C9

    11

    11

    11

    11

    v cc-

    10k

    R7

    11

    11

    Vout

    LM324

    V-

    V-

    2 –

    R6 LM324

    V-

    V-

    v cc-

    1 60u

    3

    + 4

    U3A

    OUT 1 2 –

    10k

    3

    +

    4 V+ 10k

    R8

    10k

    v

    3

    +

    4 V+ 10k

    R8

    10k

    v

    V+ R16

    OUT 1

    R9 LM324

    2 –

    v cc-

    V-

    V-

    1

    C8

    .1u

    v cc+

    v ref

    10k

    U4A

    cc+

    OUT

    3 + 4

    R11

    run

    D11

    U5A

    V+ 10k

    UT268

    C3

    R10 C5

    v cc+ U10A

    4

    4

    V+

    V+

    3 + 1

    v cc+

    1

    2u 2meg

    1

    .1u

    run

    R15

    2 –

    OUT 1

    PWM

    v cc+

    V1

    v cc-

    v ref

    V3

    1k LM324

    11 V-

    15Vdc

    V2 8Vdc

    R14v cc-

    V1 = 10v V5

    50k

    1 15Vdc

    V2 = -10v TD = 0

    TR = 490us

    TF = 490us

    PW = 10us 1

    PER = 1ms

    R20 1 1

    10k

  3. By considering same cicuit parameter values that are already used in uncontrolled AC Cûk converter the input- output simulation results for input voltage 250V, 300V and 325V (all are peak values) have been observed. It is seen that output voltage is constant and always maintained 800V- peak value and better ripple free output than Controlled AC Buck-Boost (simulation results are not included in paper due to page limitation). To achieve the output voltage always 300V-peak value (even the input decrease or increase from its actual value) and overcome the simulation difficulties some circuit parameter values have been changed randomly. After making these arrangement of parameters value the results are shown in Fig. 9(a), (b) and (c) for the input voltage 250V, 300V and 325V respectively and output always 300V-peak value in every cases.

    1. The circuits have been simulated by OrCAD (version 16.1). By comparing Fig. 3(a), (b) and (c) with Fig. 7(a), (b) and (c) respectively (for manual controlled converter-in case of AC Buck-Boost and CUK converter), it has been seen that output always maintains constant (300V-peak) by using PWM technique in both arrangements.

      On the other hand, by comparing Fig. 5(a), (b) and (c) with Fig. 9(a), (b) and (c) respectively (for feedback controlled converter- for both cases), it has been seen that output always maintains constant (300V-peak) in both cases. It is observed that, in case of AC Cûk converter output have maintained better ripple free waveforms than AC Buck- Boost converter output.

    To calculate the THD values the following formula [11] is given by :

    Where Mh is the magnitude of either voltage or current harmonic component and M1 is the magnitude of the fundamental component of either voltage or current. Fig.10 shows the simulated waveforms of input current, output current and output voltage of AC Buck-Boost converter (for input 325V-peak) and Fig. 11 shows the spectrums of corresponding waveform of Fig 10. Moreover, Fig.12 shows the simulated waveforms of input current, output current and output voltage of proposed AC Cûk converter (for input 325V-peak) and Fig. 13 shows the spectrums of corresponding waveform of Fig 12.

    Figure 9: Input- Output waveforms (AC Cûk feedback controlled) when input Voltage: (a) 250V (b) 300V (c) 325V and respective output (300V)

    Figure 10. Input current, output current and output voltage waveform (from the top) of AC Buck-Boost Converter for input voltage 325V

    Figure 11. Spectrums of input current, output current and output voltage (from the top) of AC Buck-Boost Converter for input voltage 325V corresponding to Fig 10.

    Figure 12. Input current, output current and output voltage waveform (from the top) of AC Cûk Converter for input voltage 325V

    Figure 13. Spectrums of input current, output current and output voltage (from the top) of AC Cûk Converter for input voltage 325V corresponding to Fig 12.

    Comparing the waveforms of Fig. 10 and 12, it have been seen that the input current contains less harmonics (spikes), the output current and output voltage waveforms contain less ripples (mostly sinusoidal) in case of AC Cûk configuration compare to the AC Buck-Boost arrangement.

    Furthermore, based on spectrum analysis, according to Fig. 11 and 13, it is also observed that input current contains less harmonics (spikes), output current and output voltage waveforms contain almost no harmonics components in AC Cûk converter.

    Finally, total harmonic distortion (THD) have been calculated based on spectrum analysis according to Fig. 11 and 13 by using formula in equation (4).

    The calculated THD values are:

    THD % =

    100 = 104.28% (For AC Buck-Boost Converter)

    REFERENCES

    1. Steven M. Hietpas and Mark Naden, Automatic Voltage Regulator Using an AC Voltage- Voltage Converter, IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp.33-38, January/ February 2000.

    2. N. Kutkut, R. Schneider, T. Grant, and D.Divan, AC Voltage Regulation Technologies, Power Quality Assurance, pp. 92-97, July/Aug. 1997.

    3. D. Divan, P. Sutherland, and T. Grant, Dynamic Sag Corrector: A New Concept in Power Conditioning, Power Quality Assurance, pp.42-48, Sept./Oct. 1998.

    4. G. Venkataramanan, B.K. Johnson, and A. Sundaram, An AC-AC Power Converter for Custom Power Applications, IEEE Trans. Power Delivery, Vol. 11, pp.1666-1671, July 1996.

    5. J.Hoyo, H.Calleja, and J.Alcala, High-quality output PWM AC voltage regulator based on Cuk converter, International Journal of Electronics,Vol.92, No.4, pp. 231-242, April 2005.

    6. Z.Ling, and L.Lei, "Isolated Cuk Three-Level AC-AC Converter", The 5th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications, ICIEA, 2010, pp.1012-1017.

    7. P. K. Banerjee, M. A. Choudhury and Golam Toaha Rasul, AC Voltage Regulation by Switch Mode BUCK-Boost Voltage Controller, Journal of Electrical Engineering, IEB, Vol. EE 31, No. I and II. December 2004, pp.27-31

    8. M. H. Rashid,"Power Electronics Circuits, Devices, and Applications," Prenctice Hall Englewood Cliffs, Second Edition, 1993,

      THD % =

      Cûk Converter)

      *100 = 86.32% (For AC

      pp.317-387.

    9. Slobodan Cûk,"Basics of Switched Mode Power Conversion Topologies, Magnetics, and Control, Modern Power Electronics: Evaluation, Technology, and applications, Edited by B.K. Bose, IEEE Press, 1992, pp.265-296.

      So, according to waveforms as well as THD values, the performance of proposed Cûk converter is better than AC Buck-Boost converter.

The simulation results provided in this paper shows feasibility of the AC-AC switching voltage converter for voltage sag correction by using Cûk converter topology with better performance. To get better output and performance further investigation and more research and development are needed for this arrangement. Some future works are recommended: designing output and input filter properly to minimize ripple and harmonics, formula (procedure) considering the right choice of passive elements (instead of random choice), developing feedback control circuit properly as per output requirements, proper selection of switching frequency, considering variety of loads (resistive, inductive, capacitive or any combination), performance analysis and comparison of efficiency as per duty cycle, development needed for total harmonics distortion (THD) to meet the standards like IEEE-519 and IEC 1000-3.

[

  1. Slobodan M. Cûk , "Modelling, Analysis and Design of Switching Converter," Ph.D Thesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 1977 (November 29, 1976) .

  2. Bo-Tao Lin and Yim-Shu Lee, Power factor correction using Cúk converters in discontinuous capacitor voltage mode operation,

IEEE Trans. Industrial Electron., vol. 44, no. 5, pp. 648-653, Oct. 1997.

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